Environmental Sustainability Committee chairman and councillor Neil Jones said there was an understandable learning curve and some resistance when the green waste bins were first introduced in July 2013.

But he said there was evidence the vast majority of residents had embraced the system and learned how to use the green bins in the years since.

“They understand the need to keep useful resources out of landfill by sorting their household waste,” he said.

Cameras examine the contents of a bin before it is tipped into the truck, meaning any bins filled with the wrong kind of waste are not collected and a sticker is placed on the bin outlining the problem to give the resident some feedback.

Cr Jones said if there were ongoing problems with waste management at a particular address, it triggered a follow-up face-to-face visit with the resident to find out more and explore options.

“The vast majority of Orange residents understand the system and there are rarely this level of problems,” he said.

“In December, of the 16,000 addresses where waste collection were made each week, there were only four where follow-up visits were needed.”

He advised residents to visit www.orange.nsw.gov.au/waste to access information about which week the recycling bin is collected and simple reminders for families who have recently arrived in town about which waste goes in which bin.

Ophir Resource Recovery Centre offers free drop-offs for household recyclables, kitchen and garden waste, batteries, oils and gas cylinders.

It also does not charge residents to drop off items suitable for resale at the Recovery Shop including furniture, bikes, books and building materials, e-waste such as old household electrical and computer equipment, scrap steel including most old white goods, car bodies, corrugated iron and fencing wire, and hazardous waste such as smoke detectors, fluorescent light tubes and other light globes.